South Africa will play three Twenty20 internationals, five ODIs and four Tests on a 72-day tour of India this year, according to the schedule released today. The tour, which runs from September to December, will be South Africa’s longest trip to India and will feature their first Twenty20 international against India in India and the first four-Test series between the two teams in India.
The second Test in Bangalore, scheduled to start from November 14, is also likely to be AB de Villiers’ 100th Test. De Villiers has played 98 Tests so far and is not a part of South Africa’s squad in the ongoing Test series against Bangladesh.
The tour will begin with a T20 practice match in Delhi, before the three T20Is in Dharamsala, Cuttack and Kolkata, which will be played between October 2 and 8. The ODI series will be played between October 11 and 25 in Kanpur, Indore, Rajkot, Chennai and Mumbai.
The visitors will have a two-day team-building session in Goa and a two-day tour-match in Mumbai against the Board President’s XI before the start of the first Test in Mohali on November 5. The remaining Tests will be played in Bangalore, Nagpur and Delhi.
The BCCI had earlier allotted one of the Tests in the series to Ahmedabad. With the Motera stadium going under renovation, Mohali has been allotted the Test match, while the T20, which was scheduled to be held in Mohali, has been moved to Cuttack.
“This will be the longest tour that we have undertaken to India and the first time we will play a four-Test series,” Cricket South Africa’s chief executive, Haroon Lorgat, said. “Both countries are now working to develop this into an icon series. Another first is that we will be playing our first T20 International match against India in India.
“Of note will be the second Test match to be played in Bangalore where the Castle Lager Proteas previously secured our only ever Test Series win over India in India in 2000. If all works out this will be AB de Villiers’ 100th Test match and it could not be a more appropriate venue as it has become AB’s second home through his involvement with the Royal Challengers Bangalore.”
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